Ammunition conveyer



Original Filed Aug. 25, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 flllllllllllllllllm df/v/ INVENTOR WILLIAM THpMAs ATTORNEY July 9, 1946.

W. THOMAS AMMUNITION GONVEYER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Aug. 25, 1936 INVENTOR WILLIAM THOMAS BY M ATTORNEY July 9, 1946. w. THOMAS 2,403,882

AMMUNITION CONVEYER Original Filed Aug. 25, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR WILLIAM 'T'HoMAs BYWZW ATTORN EY July 9, 1946. HQMAS 2,403,882

AMMUNITION CONVEYER Original Filed Aug. 25, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR WILLIAM T'HoMAs v ATTORNEY Original Filed Aug. 25, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR WIL'LIAM THOMAS ATTORNEY Patented July 9, 1946 William Thomas, Waterbury, Conn, assignor to: The Waterbury Tool Company, Waterbury, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut ApplicationAugust 25, 1936, Serial No; 97,801'

Renewed October 28; 1939 19Claims. (ores-46% 1 This invention relates to power transmissions and more particularly to a conveyer for delivering articles from one station to another wherein a fire hazard is present at one station and in which it is desired to prevent the possibility of flame transmission between the two stations at all times, while permitting the continued passage of articles between the stations. The invention is particularly adapted to delivering ammunition aboard ship from an ammunition storage compartment to a position at the guns for use therein, although it will be understood that the invention may be adapted to other uses wherein similar conditions and problems are encountered.

It is customary in war vessels to locate the ammunition magazines or storage chambers in the lower part of the ship where the possibility of their contents being exploded by enemy projectiles is most remote. The guns which use the ammunition being situated on the upper decks of the ship, either in turrets or on deck mountings, it is necessary to provide means for conveying ammunition from the magazine to-a position near the guns where it may be readily placed in the guns as needed.

Various types of conveyers have been heretofore provided for this purpose and where high rates of delivery to rapid firing guns are required, the so-called dredger type ammunition hoists have marked advantages over other types in use. Such a hoist usually comprises an endless chain conveyer which is encased in a continuous tubular hoist trunk or casing extending through the ship from the loading station in or adjacent the magazine to the unloading station adjacent the gun. This continuous hoist trunk provides a conduit which introduces the possibility of flame transmission to the magazine whenever accidental explosions occur at the gun or whenever an enemy .projectile explodes in or near the hoist trunk.

In order to break this continuous path for flame travel to the magazine, it has been found necessary heretofore to deliver the ammunition in two stages by two entirely independent ammunition hoists with a transfer station where the ammunition is carried manually from the delivery end of the lower hoist to the loading end of the upper hoist. This construction, while satisfactory from the standpoint of safety of the installation and eifectiveness to prevent the transmission of flare-backs to the magazine, adds considerably to the weight and cost ofthe installation since each of the two sections of the hoist must be'providedwith' its ownindea pendent drive mechanism. Furthermore additional crew is required for handling ammunition at the transfer station, which not only increases.

the number of men required for eachgun .to be fired but presentsalso a retarding element in the delivery of ammunition since it .introduces one more place for unavoidable human errors anddelays to interfere with the intended operationofthehoist. l v

It is an object of the present invention to provide a conveyer particularly adapted for delivery of ammunition directly betweenia loading .sta-

tion adjacent the magazine andan unloading station adjacent the gun by whichammunition may be delivered through a continuous closed casing whereby transmission of flare-backs to the loading'station may be preventedwithout requiring an intermediate transferistation: T

It is also an object to provide a conveyer for" delivering articles between two stations which are separated by a flame-proof wall having an o'pening'at one station adjacent the conveyer 1 and in which: is incorporated means for passingv articles through the opening while maintaining a flame-proof seal at all times.

A further object is to provide a loading station for a, conveyer whereby articles may be'loaded on the conveyer including means for maintaining a flame-proof seal around the conveyer at all times;

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following A description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a, diagrammatic cross section of a ship incorporating a preferred'forin of the present invention.

Fig'. 215 a partial of Fig. 3. 0

Fig.3 is a front view of 'a conveyer loading sectional view on line 2-2 station, portions of the mechanism being broken away for clearness. V v

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the driving and controlling mechanism for the v conveyer illustrated in Fig. '1. V

' Fig.5 is a cross section on line 5-5 of Fig. 2'.

Fig." 6 is a cross section on line 6--'6 of Fig. '7. FigJ'I is across section on line l-lof Fig.2.

Referring now'to Fig. 1 there is indicateddia-V 1 grammatically a portion of a longitudinalsection of a war vessel having superimposed decks Ill of usual construction, the spaces between which are 3 divided by partitions l2 into suitable compartments. Indicated at I4 is a deck gun and at I5 a revolving turret having two or more guns I8 mounted thereon in the usual fashion. Adjacent the gun I4 is mounted the delivery head of a dredger type ammunition hoist 2| having a trunk 22 extending downwardly through the vessel to a compartment 24 which may be either a magazine compartment for the storage of ammunition or a handling room adjacent such a compartment and in which is located the loading end 25 of the hoist 2| together with suitable driving mechanism for the hoist. In the turret I6 is mounted a delivery head 26 of a second dredger type ammunition hoist 21 having a trunk 28 extending vertically downward to a compartment 30 similar to the compartment 24, in which is located the loading end 32 and the necessary driving mechanism for the hoist 21. The hoist trunk 28 is shown secured to the top deck I0 at the center of rotation of the turret l5 and is stationary relative to the turret although it will be understood that the ammunition hoist 21 may be mounted to revolve with the turret 15 if desired.

Referring now to Figs. 2 through '1 wherein the construction of the loading ends 25 and 32 is illustrated in detail, there is shown a casing 34 forming the lower end of the hoist trunk to which the casing 34 may be tightly sealed at the flange 35. The casing 34 serves not only to enclose the drive sprockets 46 and hoist chain or conveyer band 38, having conveyer lugs 39, but also as a mounting for the hoist driving and control mechanism. The latter may be of any suitable construction. The form of drive mechanism and control therefor illustrated comprises a fluid motor 42 adapted to drive the sprockets 40 through a worm drive 44. A variable displacement pump 45 and auxiliary pump 48 are driven by an electric motor 50 to supply fluid to the motor 42 through a control unit 52. The control unit 52 is constructed to control the displacement of the pump 45 and to control communication between the pump 45 and the motor 42 through conduits 54 in a manner to provide for automatically moving the hoist chain 38 through one flight whenever a starting short of fluid from the auxiliary pump 48 is admitted to the device 52 through a control conduit 55.

For this purpose the control unit 52 comprises a body 41 having a cylindrical bore 43 in which is mounted a spool valve 45 for the purpose of blocking or opening the passage of oil between the conduits 54 and conduits 41. A second cylindrical chamber 49 carries a spool valve 5| for the purpose of reversing the flow between the conduits 41 and a pair of conduits 53 which lead to the fluid motor 42. The body 4| also has at its upper end a bore 55 in which is mounted a spool valve 51 for controlling the stroke regulating fluid motor of the pump 45. A conduit 59 extendsfrom the auxiliary pump 48 to the upper end of the bore 55 while a conduit 5! enters the bore 55 at its mid-portion. The valve 51 is adapted to selectively control and reverse the connections of the conduits 59 and 5! with a pair of conduits 63 and 65 leading to opposite ends of the stroke regulating mechanism at the pump 46. The valves 45 and 51 are formed integrally upon a common stem having an enlarged portion 61 around which is slidably mounted a lift piston 69. The latter has a cylindrical upper portion 1| slidably fitted in a chamber 13 which communicates with the upper end of the bore 55 through a passage 15 formed in the spool of valve 51. The

piston 65 has a portion 11 of larger diameter than the portion 1| and slidably fitted in a chamber 19 to which the conduit 55 leads. The bottom wall of the piston 65 is provided with an opening forming a clear passage around the stem of valve 45 and having a seat on which the enlarged portion 51 of the stem is adapted to rest for the purpose of closing this passage. The space inside the piston 11 communicates with the tank through a passage 8| formed in the stem of the valve 45. At its lower .end the valve stem has a roller 83 acting as a follower for a cam 85. The latter is connected by a suitable drive means not shown to the shaft of the sprockets 45 so that the cam makes one revolution while the chain 38 travels through one flight distance. The cam 85 has a depression in which the roller 83 is shown at rest. In this position the valve 45 is completely closed while the valve 51 connects the conduit 63 to the pressure line 59 and the conduit 55 to the tank line (ii. To either side of this depression are elevated portions 81 which hold the valves in such a position that the valve 45 is opened toa considerable degree while the valve 51 still connects conduit 63 with conduit 59 and conduit 65 with conduit 6|. The remainder of the periphery of the cam 85 is raised still further so as to completely open the valve 45 and to reverse the connections at the valve 51. When the valves are raised to this upper extreme position the valve stem has been lifted higher than it is possible'to lift the piston 69, so that the enlarged portion 61 lifts away from the seat in the bottom Wall of p the piston 69. The cam 85 and its drive mechanism are enclosed in a suitable oil-tight housing nottlkshown, the interior of which is connected to ta The entire arrangement of the control unit 52 is such that whenever a shot of oil is admitted through the conduit 56 to the chamber 19, the piston 59 is lifted due to the enlarged portion 61 being on its seat in the bottom wall of the piston 59. The piston 69 and both valves 45 and 51 are accordingly lifted to a position just short of the highest position to which the cam would lift them. Thus the valve 45 is opened and the valve 51 is reversed to cause the stroke of the pump 46 to be increased at a rate determined by the volumetric capacity of the auxiliary pum 48. Oil is delivered to and returned from the fluid motor 42 through the conduits 54, 41, and 53, thus causing the motor 42 to operate, turning the cam 85. The latter will contact the roller 83 after about A of a revolution when the highest part of the cam strikes the roller 83, thus lifting the valves 45 and 51 a further amount. This additional lift raises the enlarged portion 51 off from the seat in the bottom wall of the piston 59,, thus permitting the oil trapped in the chamber 19 to escape through the opening in the bottom wall of the piston 69 and through the passage Bl to tank. As soon as the cam has completed an approximate /2 revolution in addition, theroller 83 drops down to the cam portion 81, thus reversing connections at valve 51 but not completely closing the valve 45. The stroke of the pump 45 is thus reduced at a rate determined by the capacity of pump 48 causing the motor 42 to decelerate. When the cam 85 has completed a revolution, the .rol1er-'B3 returns to the position showriin the. drawings, completely closing the valve 45. At this time the enlarged portion 61 again comes to-rest on its seat in the 'bottom wall of piston 69, thus-placing the apparatus in condition for restarting whenever another shot of oil; is introduced to; the conduit 56. It will be noted that should ashot of oil be introduced to the conduit 56 before the cam 85 has made one revolution, the lift piston 69 will not rise because a free path is opened from the chamber 19 to tank through the passage in which the enlarged portion 61 seats. It will also be noted that The casing 34 is provided on its frontface with; an outward extension 58 having anopening60 of proper size and shape to permit a-piece of am-' munition to pass therethrough. The extension 58 is hinged to the casing at 62 along one edge thereof and is adapted to be clamped in sealing engagement therewith by suitable securing means 64.

The extension 58 is formed with a cylindrical re-' cess 66 within which is mounted a transfer cylinder 68. The cylinder 68 is pivoted on bearings which are in turn mounted on studs 12 threaded into the extension 58 for permitting assembly of the cylinder 68 therein. The cylinder 68 is provided with a recess 14 of suitable shape to receive a piece of ammunition within the confines of the cylinder so that the latter mayrotate between the position illustrated and a position 180- away, in which the recess 14 is in register with the opening 60. Spring retaining clips 16 are secured in the walls of the recess 14 for frictionally retaining ammunition in the recess. An ejector arm 18 is pivoted at 80 in the cylinder 66 and has-an operating arm 62 in engagement with apin 84 on a bar 86 slidable in a bore 88. A spring 90 biases the bar 86 downwardly and the ejector arm18 toward the back of the recess 14 to lie within a suitable recess62 adjacent the recess 14.

The lower end of the cylinder 68 has secured thereto a bevel gear 94 which is positioned within a recess 96 so formed that the cylinder 68 with gear 94 attached may be inserted in the extension 58 by laterally slidin the same into: the recess 66 from the conveyer chain side thereof when the extension 56 is swung away frointhecasing 34. A bevel gear 98 meshes with the gear 94 and is rigidly secured to a crankshaft I00 mounted ina bearing 32 and havin a handle, I04 whereby the cylinder 68 may be manually rotated. Suitable means are provided for limiting the rotation of the cylinder 66 to 180 and for this purpose conveniently, the gear 94 may be formed with blank teeth on a portion of its periphery.

The casing 34 is provided below the extension 58 with an opening I06, sealed by a casing member I08. Journalled between the casing 34 and the casing I08 is a shaft IIO carrying a trip arm H2 and a pinion H4. The former projects into the path of the carrying lugs 39 so that in the rest position of the chain 38 the lu II2 isheld in the position shown in Fig. 2. I I

The pinion II4 meshes with a pinion I I6 secured to a shaft I I6 journalled in the casing member I08 and extending outwardly on both sides thereof. The shaft I I8 carries an arm I20 connected to a bar I22 slidable in a bore I24 in the extension 58. Bore 86 and bar 86 are adapted t register with the bar I22 and the bore I24 whenever the cylinder 68 lies inthe position il- A spring I26 biases lustrated in the drawings. the bar I22 downwardly to retract the same whenever the trip am 2:13 released by thelug 39.

The trip arm ,I I2-is connected to the. pinion II4 through a spring biased lost motion connection illustrated in Figs..6' and 'l. For this purpose the arm- II2 has .a hub I28 having a projecting portion' I30 thereon. The pinion II4has a hub I 32 surrounding the hub I 28 and provided with a recessI34 of greater circumferential extent than springs I26 and 90.

Pivotally mounted in the casin 34 adjacent the extension 58 are a pair of barriers or flapper doors I38 adapted to rest against thesurfaceof the cylinder 68. .The doors I38 are of sufficient.

Width to prevent ammunition. from accidentally falling from the recess 14 on to the conveyer chain 38: when the doors are in the dotted line position. The doors I38 extend the full length of the recess 14 and have-sealing engagement with the top and bottom walls thereof. The doors I38 are mounted on pivot shafts I40 which project below the extension 58 and carry bevel gears I42 meshing with bevel gears I44 secured to the shaft 1 I8.

Pivotally mounted in the casing 34 adjacent the;

lower edge of the recess 66'at I46 is a lower trip arrnI48 adapted to be depressed by a pieceof ammunition such as I50 when it is placed in position on the hoist chain 38.. The lower'trip I48 is connected by an arm I52 to a lower trip valve I54 mounted in a valve block -I'56.;.'An upper tripvalve I58is also mounted in the block I56 and is adapted to befactuated by a solenoid I65 which in turn is controlled by an upper trip I62 locatediat the;

delivery end of the hoist. The valve I54 is adapted to connect a conduit I64 with a conduit I66 when the trip I48 is depressed and to connect conduit I64with a conduit I68 when the trip I4 8 is raised. The valve I56 is adapted to open-communication between the conduit I64 and the conduit 56 whenever the solenoid I60 is energized andto close communication when the solenoid is deenergized. Thesolenoid I60 is under the control of-upper trip I62 through a'three-way switch I10 which'is connected in circuit with a three-way switch I12 adapted to be actuated by a reversing lever I14:

When the reversing lever I14'is set to hoist am- 50 munition as illustrated in Fig. 4, the switch I12 connects the solenoid to the switch I10 so that the a solenoid will be energized whenever the trip I62 is released by the removal of ammunition from the delivery end of the hoist. With reverse lever I14 set for lowering ammunition the switch I12 connects the solenoid I 60 to the switch I10 for opposite action. reversing valve I16 for selectively connecting either the conduit I66 or the conduit I68 with a conduit I18 leading from the auxiliary pump 48;

as well as controlling valve 5| for reversing operation of motor 42. In operation, with motor 50 and pumps46 and A g 48 running, and with the hoist at rest due to the 65' presence of a piece of ammunition at the deliverystation, trip I62 keeps the solenoid I60 deenergized' so that pressure fluid from the pump 48 is blocked" off from the conduit at the valve I58. Assuming a piece of ammunition to have been ejected from the recess 14 and to lie on the chain 38 and" the lower trip I48; as soon as the ammunition is removedfrom the delivery station, trip I62 is re-- leased to energize solenoid I opening valve I58 to admit pressure fluid to the' conduit 56. It will be-noted that at the instant of starting; the-bar The lever I14 also controls a agoassa I22 is projected into the bore 88 by the action of'the trip arm II2 which is engaged by the carrying lug 39, so that cylinder 68 is efiectively locked against rotation. The control unit 58 in response to the admission of pressure fluid to the conduit 56 causes the fluid motor 42 to drive the sprockets 40 and chain 38 through one flight; that is, through the distance required to bring the next lug 39 into rest position as illustrated in Fig. 2. As soon as the chain 38 starts to move, the trip arm I I2 is released and springs 90 and 126 force the bars 86 and I22 downwardly, thus retracting the ejector arm I8 and withdrawing the bar I22 from the bore 88. The cylinder 68 is thereby unlocked so that it may be rotated half a revolution by operation of the crank handle IM. This brings the recess I4 into register with the opening 60 so that a piece of ammunition may be placed in the recess '54 and the crank I04 may be again operated to return the cylinder 68 to the position shown.

If this sequence of operations of the cylinder 68 be completed before the hoist chain 38 has complet'ed one flight, the flapper doors I38 will lie in contact with th cylinder 68, as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 5, thus positively retaining the ammunition against accidental displacement from the recess I4. As soon as the chain 38 comes to the end of its flight the next lug 39 again actuates the trip arm I I2 to open the flapper doors I38 and to operate the ejector arm I8, thus positively displacing the ammunition from the recess T4 to the proper position on the chain 38. The hoist is then ready for another cycle of operation as soon as the piece of ammunition is removed from the delivery end of the hoist.

Should the hoist chain 38 complete its flight before the cylinder 68 has been returned to the position illustrated, the lug 33 will actuate the trip arm I i2 but since the bore 88 is not in register with the bar I22 it is impossible for the pinions H4 and H6, operating arm I26 and the flapper door pivot shafts I'll) to move. Under these conditions the movement of the trip arm II2 takes up the lost motion between the arm H2 and the pinion H4 and further tensions the spring I36. Thereafter as soon as cylinder 62 is brought into ejecting position, the bar I22 moves into bore 83 under the urge of spring 536 and the operation continues as before.

If at any time during the operation of the hoist an accidental explosion should occur adjacent the gun or in the hoist trunk itself due to a hit by an enemy shell, the transmission of flare-backs or flame travel of any kind to the compartments 24 and 30 is effectively prevented at the loading stations 25 and 32. It will be noted that no matter what the position of the cylinder 68 there is no path for flame to travel from the interior of the casing 34 to the exterior thereof. Thus, when the cylinder 68 is in the position shown in the drawing the cylinder itself forms a seal at the opening 60 by its engagement with the walls thereof. Any gas pressure existing in the casing 34 above the pressure outside thereof tends to force the cylinder 68 into tighter engagement with the walls of the opening 60. In all other positions of the cylinder 68, the flapper doors I38 are maintained in sealing engagement with the walls of the cylinder 68 by the action of spring I26 which tends to force the lever I20 downwardly thus urging the shafts I46 in the direction for closing the flapper doors I38. The distance from the point of contact of the flapper doors I38 with the cylinder 68 to the point of engagement of cylinder =68 with the side walls of the opening is greater than the width of the recess I4. By this construction it is thus insured.

that the opening through which ammunition is passed to the hoist chain 38 isimaintained sealed at all times.

The cylinderGB being pivoted on a non-vertical axis and having a non-symmetrically disposed center of gravity tends always to assist the operator of the crank handle I04. Thus, in moving the empty cylinder from the position, shown, to the position for loading the recess I4, the heaviest part of the rotating mass is above its center of rotation so that once it is moved off from dead center, the natural tendency is to rotate to the position for loading the recess 14. Likewise, when the recess 14 is loaded, the center of gravity of the combined cylinder and ammunition is again above the center of rotation so that the loaded cylinder tends to move to the position shown. To make use of this feature to the greatest extent it is desirable to proportion the mass of the cylinder 68 relative to that of the ammunition I50 in such a manner that the unbalanced mass of cylinder 68 is substantially half the mass of the ammunition I56 and that its center of gravity is located at a radius from the center of rotation equal to the radius of the center of gravity of I the ammunition from the center of rotation.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows: 7

1. In a conveyer for delivering ammunition between a loading station adjacent a storage compartment and a station for use and having an endless flexible ammunition conveyer band, a flame-proof casing surrounding the conveyer band and means for driving the conveyer band in intermittent cycles of movement, the combination with the conveyer of means for passing ammunition into said casing at the loading station, means cooperating with the ammunition passing means for maintaining a flame-proof seal between the inside and outside of the casing at all times, and means preventing initiation of a cycle of the conveyer band until the ammuni- -.tion passing means has operated to position a piece of ammunition on the conveyer band.

2. In a conveyer for delivering articles between two stations the combination of an endless flexible conveyer band, means for driving said conveyer band in intermittent cycles of movement, means forming a flame-proof wall between said conveyer band and one of said stations, said wall having an opening adjacent the conveyer band through which articles may pass, means associated with said opening for passing articles therethrough and cooperating with said opening for maintaining said opening sealed against the passage of flame, and means preventing initiation of a cycle of the conveyer band until the article passing means has positioned an article on the conveyer band,

3. In a conveyer for delivering ammunition between a loading station adjacent a storage compartment and a station for use and having an endless flexible ammunition conveyer band, a flame-proof casing surrounding the conveyer band and means for driving the conveyer band in intermittent cycles of movement, the combination with the conveyer of means for passing 35? ammunition into said casing at the loading station, means for controlling the operation of the ammunition passing means in accordance with operation of the conveyer band, means cooperating with the ammunition passing means for maintaining a flame-proof seal between the inside and outside of the casing at all times, and means preventing initiation of a cycle of the conveyer band until the ammunition passing means has operated to position a piece of ammunition on the conveyor band.

4. In a conveyer for delivering ammunition between a loading station adjacent astorage compartment and a station for use and having an endless flexible ammunition conveyer. band provided with a plurality of ammunition carrying lugs, a flame-proof casing surrounding the conveyer band and means for driving the conveyer band in intermittent cycles of movement starting and terminating with lug in a predetermined position, the combination with the conveyer of means for passing ammunition into said casing at the loading station including a rotatable cylinder having an ammunition receiving recess and spaced from said conveyer band suiiiciently to permit said lugs and the ammunition carried thereby to pass said cylinder in all positions thereof, means cooperating with the'ammu'nition passing means for maintaining a flame-proof seal between the inside and outside of thecasi'ng at all times, and means for positively ejecting ammunition from said recess on to the conveyer band.

5. In a conveyer for delivering ammunition between a loading station adjacent a storage compartment and a station for use and having-an endless flexible ammunition conveyer band, a flame-proof casing surrounding the" conveyer band and means for driving the conveyer'band, the combination with the conveyer of means for passing ammunition into said casing at the'loading station including a rotatable cylinder having an ammunition receiving recess, means forming a casing for said cylinder and having a loading opening with which said recess may register in one position of the cylinder, means for rotating said cylinder to and from a position in which the recess is adjacent to and facing the conveyer band, and means in addition to said casingfor forming a flame-proof seal between the interior of said fluidtight casing and the cylinder, said cylinder engaging its casing to formaflame-proof seal between the cylinder and the opening.

6. In a conveyer for delivering ammunition between a loading station adjacent a storage compartment and a station for use and having an endless flexible ammunition conveyer band,-

a flame-proof casing surrounding the conveyer band and means for driving the conveyer band, the combination with the conveyer of means for passing ammunition into saidcasing atthe load-' ing station including a rotatable cylinder having an ammunition receiving recess, means forming a casing for said cylinder and having a loading open ing with which said recess may registerfin one position of the cylinder, means for rotating said cylinder to and from a position in which the recess is adjacent to and facing the conveyer band, and means for ejecting ammunition laterally from said recess on to the conveyer band, and controlled in accordance with the operation of the conveyer band,

7. In a conveyer for delivering ammunition between a loading station adjacent a storage compartment and a station for use and having an endless flexible ammunition conveyer band, a

flame-proof casing surrounding the conveyer band and'means for driving the conveyer band, the combination with the conveyer of'means for passing ammunition into said casing at the loading station including a rotatable cylinder having anammunition receiving'means, means forming a casing for'said cylinder and having a loading opening with which said recess may register in one position of the cylinder, means for rotating said cylinder to and from a position in which the recess is adjacent to and facing the conveyer band,- and-means including adis'placeable barrier forming a flame-proof seal between the interior of said fluidtig'ht casingand the'cylinder, said cylinder engaging its casing to form a flameproof seal between the cylinder andfthe'opening.

8. In a conveyor for delivering ammunition be-' tween a'loadingstation adjacent a storage compartment and a station for use and having an endless flexible ammunition conveyer band, a flame-proof casing surrounding the conveyer band'and means for driving the conveyer band, the combination with the conveyer of meansfor passing ammunition intosaid casing at the 1oading'station including a rotatable cylinder having an ammunition receiving recess, means forming a casing for said cylinder and having a loading opening with which said recess may register in one position of the cylinder, means for retating said cylinder to and from a' position in which the recess is adjacent to and facin the conveyer band, means including a displaceable;

barrier forming a flame-proof seal between the interior of said fluidtight casing and the cylinder, said cylinder engaging its casing to form a flame-proof seal between the cylinder and the opening, means for ejecting ammunition from said recess, and meansfor displacing said bar-' rier, both last named means being controlled in accordance with the operation of the conveyer band.

9. In a conveyer for delivering ammunition between a loading station adjacent a'storage compartment and a station for use and having an endless flexible ammunition conveyer band, a flame-proof casing surrounding the conveyer band and means for driving the conveyer band, the combination with the conveyer of means for passing ammunition into said casing at the loading station including a rotatable cylinder having an ammunition receiving recess, means forming a casing for said cylinder and having a loading opening with which said recess may register in cylinder engaging its casing to form a flameproof seal between the cylinder-and'the opening, and means fordisplacing said barrier, controlled in accordance with the operation of the conveyer vband. V

l0. In a conveyer for delivering ammunition between a loading stationadjacenta storage compartment and a station for use and having an endless flexible ammunition conveyer band, a

flame-proof casing surrounding the conveyer band and means for driving the conveyer band, the combination with the conveyer of means for passing ammunition into said casing at the loading station including a rotatable cylinder hav ng mfi m n i n e i ns. re e s mean i fl m a casing: for said cylinder and having a loading opening with which said recess may register in one position of the cylinder, means: for rotating said cylinderto and from a. position in which the recess is adjacent to and facing the conveyer band, means including a displaceable barrier forming a flame-proof seal between the interior of said fluidtight casing and the cylinder, said cylinder engaging its casing to form a flameprcof seal between the cylinder and the openin means for displacing said barrier, controlled. in accordance with the operation of the conveyer band, and means for preventing rotation of the cylinder while said barrier is. displaced.

11. In a conveyer for delivering ammunition between a loading station adjacent a storage compartment and a station for use and having an endless flexible ammunition conveyer band; a flameproof casing surrounding the conveyer band. and means for driving the conveyer band, the combination with the conveyer of means for passing ammunition into said casing at the loading station including a rotatable cylinder having an ammunition receivin recess, means forming a casing for said cylinder and having a loading opening with which said recess may register in one position of the cylinder, means for rotating said cylinder to and from a position in which the recess is adjacent to and facing the conveyer band, said cylinder being pivoted on a non-vertical axis and having its center of gravity opposite said recess sumciently so thatwhen said recess is empty the cylinder" wil1 tend to rotate to position with the recess in register with the loading opening and when ammunition is in said recess the cylinder will tend to move to the opposite position.

12. In a conveyer for delivering articles between two stations the combination of an endless flexible conveyer band, means for driving said conveyer band, means forming a flame-proof wall between said conveyer band and one of said stations, said wall having an opening adjacent the conveyer band through which articles may pass, means associated with said: opening for passing articles therethrough including a rotatable cylinder having an article receiving recess and cooperating with said opening for maintaining said opening sealed against the passage of flame, and means forming a flame-proof seal between said cylinder and the space on the conveyer band side of said wall in addition to the seal maintained between the cylinder and the opening.

13. In a conveyer for delivering articles between two stations the combination of an endless flexible conveyer band, means for driving said conveyer band, means forming a flame-proof wall between said conveyer band and one of said stations, said wall having an opening adjacent the conveyer band through which articles may pass, means associated with said opening for passing articles therethrough including a rotatable cylinder having an article receiving recess and cooperating with said opening for maintainin said opening sealed against the passage of flame, and means including a displaceable barrier forming a flame-proof seal between.- said cylinder and the space on the conveyer band side of said wall in addition to the seal maintained between the cylinder and the opening.

14. In a conveyer for delivering articles between two stations the combination of an endless flexible conveyer band, means for driving said conveyer band, means forming a flame-proof wall between said conveyer band and one of said stations, said wall having an opening adjacent the conveyer band through which articles may pass, means associated with said opening for passing articles therethrough including a rotatable cylinder having an article receiving recess and cooperating with said opening for maintaining said opening sealed against the passage of flame, and a displaceable barrier for at times preventing the passage of articles from said recess into position on said conveyer band.

15. In a conveyer for delivering articles between two stations the combination of an endless flexible conveyer band, means for driving said conveyer band, means forming a flame-proof wall between said conveyer band and one of said stations, said wall havin an opening adjacent the conveyer band through which articles may pass, means associated with said opening for passing articles therethrough including a rotatable cylinder having an article receiving recess and cooperating with said opening for maintaining said opening sealed against the passage of flame, a displaceabl barrier for at times preventing the passage of articles from said recess into position on said conveyer band, and means for displacing said barrier in accordance with the operation of the conveyer band.

16. In a conveyer for delivering articles between two stations the combination of an endless flexible conveyer band, means for driving said. conveyer band, means forming a flame-proof wall between said cenveyerband and one of said stations, said wall having an opening adjacent the conveyer band through which articles may pass, means associated with said opening for passing articles therethrough including a rotatable cylinder having an article receiving recess and cooperating with said opening for maintaining said opening sealed against the passage of flame, and means forming a flame-proof seal between said cylinder and the space on the conveyer band side of said wall in addition to the seal maintained between the cylinder and the opening, said cylinder being pivoted on a nonvertical axis and having its. center of gravity opposite said recess sufficiently so that when said recess is empty the cylinder will tend to rotate to position with the recess in register with the loading opening and when an article is in. said recess the cylinder will tend to move to the opposite position.

17. In a conveyer for delivering ammunition between a loading station adjacent a storage compartment and a station for use and having an endless flexible ammunition conveyer band, a flame-proof casing surrounding the conveyer band and means for driving the conveyer band, the combination with the conveyer of means for passing ammunition into said casing at the loading station including a rotatable cylinder having an ammunition receiving recess, means forming a casing for said cylinder and having a loading opening with which said recess may register in one position of the cylinder, means for rotating said cylinder to and from a position in. which the recess is adjacent to and facing the conveyer band, a displaceable barrier positioned between the recess and the conveyer band, and means for displacing said barrier, operated from said driving means.

18. In a conveyer for delivering ammunition between a loading station adjacent a storage compartment and a station for use and having an endless flexible ammunition conveyer band, a flame-proof casing surrounding the conveyer band and means for driving the conveyer band,

the combination with the conveyer of means for passing ammunition into said casing at the loading station including a rotatable cylinder having an ammunition receiving recess, means forming a casing for said cylinder and having a. loading opening with which said recess may register in one position of the cylinder, means for rotating said cylinder to and from a position in which the recess is adjacent to and facing the conveyer band, a, displaceable barrier positioned between the recess and the conveyer band and means for displacing said barrier in predetermined relation to the rotation of said cylinder.

19. In a conveyer for delivering ammunition between a loading station adjacent a storage compartment and a station for use and having an endless flexible ammunition conveyer band provided with a plurality of ammunition carrying lugs, a, flame-proof casing surrounding the con- 14 veyer band and means for driving the conveyer band in intermittent cycles of movement starting and terminating with a lug in a predetermined position, thecombination with the conveyer of means for passing ammunition into said casing at the loading-station including 'a rotatejecting ammunition from said recess on to the conveyer band, controlled in the operation of the conveyer WTLLIAM THOMAS.

accordance with band. 

